Stratford, Conn. police seized 29 guns stolen from a Smith & Wesson plant in Springfield, Mass. in Nov. 2012. Police said a local truck driver, Elliot Perez, stole the guns and drove them to Bridgeport, Conn. to sell them. less

Stratford, Conn. police seized 29 guns stolen from a Smith & Wesson plant in Springfield, Mass. in Nov. 2012. Police said a local truck driver, Elliot Perez, stole the guns and drove them to Bridgeport, Conn. ... more

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Elliot Perez, a truck driver, was charged by Stratford, Conn. police with 111 counts of theft of a firearm and 111 counts of criminal possession of a firearm after police said he stole 111 handguns from a Smith & Wesson plant in Springfield, Mass and transported them to Bridgeport, Conn. to sell on the street in Nov. 2012. less

Elliot Perez, a truck driver, was charged by Stratford, Conn. police with 111 counts of theft of a firearm and 111 counts of criminal possession of a firearm after police said he stole 111 handguns from a Smith ... more

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Stratford, Conn. police said Michael Murphy was involved in the theft and sale of 111 guns from a Springfield, Mass. Smith & Wesson plant. He was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and theft of a firearm. less

Stratford, Conn. police said Michael Murphy was involved in the theft and sale of 111 guns from a Springfield, Mass. Smith & Wesson plant. He was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol ... more

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Cops: Stratford truck driver stole 111 guns

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STRATFORD -- A convicted thief, hired to transport a truckload of brand new Smith & Wesson handguns through the state, hijacked the load instead -- turning his Bridgeport home into a weapons superstore.

Police said one of the guns ended up in the hands of the so-called "Blackjacket Robber," Kashawn Brown, who is accused of using it in the stick-up of more than a half dozen gas stations, fast food restaurants and convenience stores in Stratford and Bridgeport.

And Bridgeport Police Capt. James Viadero said at least 80 guns are still unaccounted for.

"Are we concerned that these guns may have ended up in the hands of dangerous criminals? Absolutely," he said.

Elliot Perez, 27, who works for Honeyspot Road-based Pace Motor Lines, was arrested by Stratford police and charged with 111 counts of theft of a firearm, 111 counts of criminal possession of a firearm, one count of illegal sale of a firearm, one count of transfer of a firearm by a person ineligible to possess a firearm and five counts of possessing weapons in a motor vehicle. He was being held in lieu of $500,000 bond.

A second man, Michael Murphy, 24, of Union Avenue, Bridgeport, was charged with criminal possession of a firearm, theft of a firearm and carrying a pistol without a permit.

Despite police concerns that he is a danger to the public, he was released after posting $10,000 bond.

Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said Smith & Wesson should be cited for its lack of diligence in tracking its shipment of guns.

"This incident is a perfect example of why we need stronger gun laws in the United States. Loopholes need to be tightened up," he said. "Our department is working closely with ATF and the Stratford police to locate these guns. I urge anyone who has information as to the whereabouts of the rest of these illegal guns to contact the Bridgeport or Stratford police, or the ATF, before someone gets hurt or another crime occurs."

Smith & Wesson officials did not return calls for comment. A spokesman for Pace Motor Lines, who answered a telephone call but refused to give his name, declined to explain why the company let a convicted felon ferry around guns. "Have a nice day," is all he said.

The shipment of 111 new Smith & Wesson firearms was stolen from Pace Motor Lines, at 1425 Honeyspot Road Extension, on Nov. 8, but the company did not report the theft until Nov. 20, said Stratford Police Detective John Therina.

The warrant affidavit states that Perez, who has a lengthy criminal record including convictions for larceny and burglary, had been assigned by Pace Motor Lines to pick up a truckload of guns from the Smith & Wesson plant in Springfield, Mass., and bring them to the Stratford terminal.

But the GPS on the truck showed Perez made a 35-minute stop at his home on Summerfield Avenue in Bridgeport. When the truck returned to the Stratford terminal, 111 guns were missing, the affidavit states.

On Nov. 16, Bridgeport police arrested Brown in connection with a number of robberies and recovered a new Smith & Wesson handgun from him, they said. During a subsequent interview, police said Brown -- the "Blackjacket Robber" -- told them he had purchased the gun from a man he knew only as "E" at an apartment on Summerfield Avenue in Bridgeport. Police said Brown told them that "E," who he later identified as Perez, had a number of guns laid out for sale, including one with a laser sight -- all matching guns stolen from Smith & Wesson.

Police said Saturday that Perez confessed to stealing the 111 guns in a scheme with Murphy. However, police said he claimed that Murphy subsequently sold the guns on the streets of Bridgeport.

He pointed out a home on Brooks Street in Bridgeport, where he said Murphy was keeping the guns. Members of the Bridgeport Police Department's SWAT team later raided that address, but found no guns there.

Viadero said police recovered 28 guns as part of its investigation with Stratford police.

Police ask anyone who has information to contact the Stratford Police Department at 203-385-4119, or the Stratford Crime Tip Hotline at 203-375-TIPS (8477) or the local division of the ATF at 203-773-2060.